ORDINANCE NO. 07-2013
DINGMAN
TOWNSHIP
PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS RULES
Section
1
Definitions
As used in
this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
PARK
Includes playgrounds; arboreta and bird sanctuaries; bridle, fitness and
hiking trails; children's playgrounds and tot-lots; nature parks; picnic
areas; sledding areas; baseball/softball, basketball, soccer, tennis,
volleyball and similar improved recreational areas; swimming pools;
undeveloped Township property; and the grounds surrounding any Township
building.
VEHICLES
Any motorized device for carrying passengers or goods.
Section
2
Supervision of Parks
All Township
parks shall be operated and maintained under the general supervision of the
Board of Supervisors acting through the Recreation Commission and in
accordance with policies established by the Board of Supervisors upon
recommendation of its Recreation Commission.
Section
3
Duties of the Recreation Commission
A. The Board
of Supervisors shall have immediate charge of all park maintenance,
installation, repair and replacement of property and equipment therein and
shall be chargeable with the duty of keeping the parks in a clean and
sanitary condition at all times. The Board of Supervisors shall be in charge
of the park maintenance employees.
B. The
Recreation Commission shall have immediate charge of the use of all parks,
park equipment and facilities, may develop recreational programs under
Township sponsorship and shall regulate and issue permits for the use of
parks by community groups. They may promulgate general regulations for the
use of parks subject to the approval of the Board of Supervisors. The
Supervisors shall be in charge of Parks and Recreation employees.
Section
4
Enforcement of Regulations
It shall be
the duty of the Board of Supervisors or its designee to enforce the
provisions of this chapter and all rules, regulations and resolutions
adopted by the Board of Supervisors and the Recreation Commission.
Section
5
Unlawful Acts
A. It shall be
unlawful to wash or make other than emergency repairs to any motor or other
vehicle in any Township park.
B. Except for
those holding group permits, it shall be unlawful to engage in any organized
group game, activity or instruction in any Township park except in such
places specifically provided and set apart for such use.
C. It shall be
unlawful for private individuals or groups to engage in fund-raising,
profit-making or commercial activities in any Township park without a
permit, which will only be issued to community-based organizations for an
activity cosponsored by the Township and subject to restrictions and
conditions which may be imposed by the Recreation Commission.
D. It shall be
unlawful to trespass on adjacent lands of residents or to harass the owners
thereof.
E. Smoking.
Smoking is defined as the carrying by a person of a lighted cigar,
cigarette, pipe or other lighted smoking device. Smoking is prohibited in
all Township parks, except for motor vehicle parking areas and any other
smoking areas designated by the Recreation Commission.
F. It shall be
unlawful to operate snow mobiles, ATVs, dirt bikes, quads, golf carts or
other similar motorized vehicles within the park.
G. It shall be
unlawful to violate those Park Rules and Regulations set forth herein.
Section
6
Damage to Park Property; Fire in Parks
A. No person
in a park shall willfully mark, deface, disfigure, injure, tamper with,
displace or remove any building, table, bench, fireplace, railing, paving,
waterline or other public utility or part thereof, sign, notice or placard,
whether temporary or permanent, monument, stake, post or other boundary
marker or other structure or equipment, facility or appurtenance, whether
real or personal.
B. No person
shall light or permit a fire to burn in a park except in fireplaces designed
for such purpose.
Section
7
Animals; Trees
No person
shall annoy, injure or kill any animal or bird in a park, or disturb any
fish or waterfowl in streams, pools or ponds, or remove or carry away any
bird's nest or egg. Nor shall any person injure or damage any tree, plant,
shrub, fern, blossom, flower or turf. The picking of violets, buttercups,
daisies or dandelions in parks, however, is permitted.
Section
8
Rest Rooms and Wash Rooms
No person in a
park shall fail to cooperate in maintaining rest rooms and washrooms in a
neat and sanitary condition. No person over the age of five years shall use
the rest rooms and washrooms designated for the opposite sex.
Section
9
Pollution of Waters; Depositing of Refuse or Trash
A. No person
shall throw, discharge or otherwise place or cause to be placed in the
waters of any pond, lake or stream in any park, or in any tributary, storm
sewer or drain flowing into a park, any substance, matter or thing, liquid
or solid, which may result in the pollution of said waters.
B. Refuse or
trash shall be placed in proper receptacles, where they are provided. Where
receptacles are not so provided, all such rubbish or waste shall be removed
from the park by the person responsible for its presence and shall be
properly disposed of elsewhere.
Section
10
Hours
No person
shall be allowed in a park or playground except between sunrise and sunset
daily, local time; provided, however, that the Parks and Recreation
Committee may by resolution establish different times during which
particular parks or playgrounds shall be kept open, subject to ratification
by the Board of Supervisors; and the Director of Parks and Recreation shall
then post in each park or playground the hours during which it shall be
open. It shall be unlawful for any person other than authorized Township
personnel to occupy or be present in a park or playground during any hours
in which the park or playground is not open to the public. Any portion of a
park or playground may be closed to the public by the Board of Supervisors
or their designated appointee at any time, either temporarily or at regular
or stated intervals.
Section
11
Group Permits
A. Permits for
the use of parks by groups of ten (10) persons or more desiring to engage in
organized games, for the exclusive use of picnic tables or for any other
special purpose shall be issued by the Recreation Commission upon
application therefor. An application fee shall be as set forth in the
Township Schedule of Fees, as adopted and amended from time to time by the
Board of Supervisors.
Any person to whom a permit is issued shall be liable for any
loss, damage or injury sustained by any person by reason of the negligence
or fault of the applicant, his servants, agents or employees.
B. The
Township may allow certain park facilities to be used by permit and may
provide that a fee be charged for making such reservations. Reservation fees
shall be as set forth in the Township Schedule of Fees, as adopted and
amended from time to time by the Board of Supervisors.
C. Time slots
for using parks and recreation areas can be reserved by permit, and will
take precedence over other public use of the area.
D. Regulations
for the use of any group permit can be imposed by Recreation Commission.
Section
12
Motor Vehicles
A. It shall be
unlawful for any person to park a motor vehicle in any Township park, unless
such person is a park patron who is using such park for park purposes during
such time as such patron's motor vehicle is parked in such park, unless
approved by the Recreation Commission.
B. It shall be
unlawful for any person to park a motor vehicle in any Township park at any
time other than during park hours, unless approved by the Recreation
Commission.
C. No person
shall park any motor vehicle in any portion of a park except in spaces set
aside and marked for parking purposes, and no person shall occupy a parked
motor vehicle after dark except with the interior lights turned on. It shall
be unlawful for any person to drive recklessly in a park, and no person
shall drive in a park in excess of the posted speed limit. No person shall
enter or leave a park except by entrances or exits provided for such
purposes, and no person shall drive a motor vehicle in a park except on a
road or driveway.
Section
13
Bringing Animals into Parks
It shall be
unlawful for any person to bring any animal other than certified service
dogs into a park or playground.
Section
14
Alcoholic Beverages
It shall be
unlawful for any person in a park to drink or possess any alcoholic
beverage, including but not limited to beer or other malt beverages. No
intoxicated persons shall be permitted in a park.
Section
15
Gambling; Indecent Acts
No gambling;
nudity; obscene or indecent acts; amplified music or other sounds; abusive,
threatening, indecent or profane language; or conduct that annoys other
persons shall be allowed in a park.
Section
16
Firearms; Fireworks
No person
except authorized members of the Police shall discharge firearms of
any kind in a park without a special permit, unless exempted. The use of
javelins, arrows, discuses or similar athletic equipment dangerous in
character is prohibited unless used under the direct supervision of an
authorized playground supervisor. The use of firecrackers, fireworks or
rockets is prohibited. Fireworks displays under a Township permit by
qualified experts shall be permitted.
Section
17
Hunting; Trapping; Fishing
No hunting,
trapping or fishing shall be allowed in any Park at any time.
Section
18
Bicycles; Skateboards; Model Airplanes; Golf
The use of
bicycles, skateboards, motor-powered vehicles, or motor powered or
propellant-driven model airplanes or rockets in a park is prohibited except
at locations specifically designated for such purposes or otherwise approved
by the Recreation Commission. The playing of golf in any park is prohibited
except on putting greens and other locations provided for such purposes and
specifically so designated.
Section
19
Swimming
No person
shall enter creeks or waterways within Township parks for the purpose of
swimming or bathing.
Section
20
Clothing
No person
shall appear in bathing attire in any park except within the limits of
designated bathing places or areas, and all bathing costumes shall conform
to commonly accepted standards. Persons over five years of age shall wear
shirts or other proper covering, except for gentlemen while sunbathing.
Dressing or undressing on any beach or in any vehicle, toilet or other place
is prohibited.
Section
21
Merchandising, Advertising and Signs
A. No
person in a park or playground shall:
(1) Expose or
offer for sale any article of personal property, nor shall he station or
place in a park or playground any stand, cart or vehicle for the
transportation, sale or display of any such article. The solicitation of
alms or subscriptions in a park or playground is prohibited.
(2) Advertise
or call the attention of the public in any way to any article or service for
sale or hire.
(3) Paste,
glue, tack or otherwise post any sign, placard, advertisement or inscription
whatever on any tree, building, fence, playground equipment or other
property in a park or playground.
Section
22
Age Restrictions for Certain Parks
Certain parks
and playgrounds shall be only for the use of persons of certain ages, and
such certain parks and playgrounds and ages shall be as established by
resolution of the Recreation Commission, subject to ratification by the
Board of Supervisors. The Recreation Commission shall then post the ages of
persons permitted to use or occupy such certain parks and playgrounds in
such respective parks and playgrounds. It shall be unlawful for any person
other than authorized Township personnel to use or occupy a park or
playground if such person is not of an age permitted to use or occupy such
park or playground.
The Board of
Supervisors may from time to time, by resolution, adopt a schedule of fees
and charges for Township facilities. In addition, the Recreation Commission
may establish a schedule of administrative fees for the use of Township
facilities with the approval of the Board of Supervisors.
Section
23
Camping
No overnight
camping shall be allowed in any of the parks or recreation areas without
permission from the Board of Supervisors upon recommendation by the
Recreation Commission. All persons wishing to receive permission for
overnight camping must give at least 30 days notice.
Section
24
Violations and Penalties
A. Any person
who shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter shall be liable on
conviction thereof to a fine or penalty of not more than $600 for each and
every offense, to be collectible before any District Justice as like fines
or penalties are now by law collectible.
B. Police
may remove from any Township park or recreation area any person who, upon
the complaint of any individual and upon the police acknowledging probable
cause, is violating any law, Township ordinance, regulation or is otherwise
disturbing the normal peaceful enjoyment of a Township park or the area
surrounding such park.
Enactment
Ordained and enacted this 3rd day of December,
2013
